Method for forming traffic regulating signs on road surfaces

ABSTRACT

The specification describes a method and a tape material for adhesively securing a traffic regulating sign or mark on a road surface, provided by laying on and pressing against a primer layer, preliminarily provided on a road surface, a tape material having a lower face designed to be juxtaposed on said primer layer, wherein said tape material lower face is provided with a lower layer of a compound which is not sticky at ambient temperature and comprises at least one component adapted to be modified and impart adhesiveness to said lower face, upon a thermal or physical or chemical action exerted by said primer layer upon actual contact of the tape material therewith by means of a resulting interfacial inter-exchange relationship.

United States Patent Eigenmann Sept. 2, 1975 [54] METHOD FOR FORMINGTRAFFIC 3,443,494 5/1969 Boettler 404/94 X REGULATING SIGNS ON ROADSURFACES 3.664.242 5/1972 Harrington et al. 404/94 X 3,668.035 6/1972Felden 156/320 X lnvemori Ludwig g n, l 3,788,879 1 1974 Waysman 117 37R Canton Ticino, Switzerland Dec. 4, Primary Examiner-Edward Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [21] Appl. No.: 312,118

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data The specificationdescribes a method and a tape mate- Dec. 2. 1971 Italy 31966/71 rial foradhesively Securing a traffic regulating g or mark on a road surface,provided by laying on and 52 us. c1. 156/71; 156/320; 156/337; Pressingagainst a Primer layer, preliminarily Provided 2 0 2 404 77; 404 79; 40494 on a road surface, a tape material having a lower face 51 Int. (:1.E01F 9/04 designed to be juxtaposed on Said Primer layer, [58] Field ofSearch 404/77, 79, 82, 92, wherein said tape material lower face isprovided with 404/95; 260/2 156/7 l 523, 320 337, a lower layer of acompound which is not sticky at am- 526 117/332, 54, 37 R bienttemperature and comprises at least one component adapted to be modifiedand impart adhesiveness [56] References Cited to said lower face, upon athermal or physical or UNITED STATES PATENTS chemical action exerted bysaid primer layer upon actual contact of the 'tape material therewith bymeans of a resulting interfacial inter-exchange relationship. 3 262,3757/1966 Eigenmann 404/72 10 Claims, No Drawings METHOD FOR FORMINGTRAFFIC REGULATING SIGNS ON ROAD SURFACES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION a.The Field of the Invention This invention is concerned with methods andmeans for providing a road surface with traffic regulating signs.generally but not exclusively consisting of continuous or interruptedlane dividing or laterally defining lines. More particularly. thisinvention is concerned with the art of forming said traffic regulatinglines or signs by laying on and adhesively securing to a preliminarilyprepared road a strip material having a lower face adaptedforjuxtaposition and adhesive connection to a prepared and essentiallysmoothed area of the road blanket and an upper face for forming the signand possessing suitable properties for good visibility. wear resistanceand so onv b. The Prior Art These methods are well known in the art andwidely published. The use of factory made strip materials, which can bestocked in coiled bobbins. carried to the locations where the trafficregulating sign is to be formed on a road surface and then un-wound toprogressively lay the material on such surface. is very advantageous.The road surface preparation and the laying down of the materials can bemechanically made with a minimum of traffic disturbance.

For most complete details of such art. with relation to the laying-downmachines. the strip material and the road surface preparation. referenceis made to several of Applicants prior patents such as US. Pat. Nos.3.007.838. No. 3.155.564. No. 3.235.436. No. 3.262.375 and No.3.399.607.

The strip material is essentially of elasto-plastic nature and its bodymay be formed from a variety of compositions. Examples of suchcompositions have been described. among other publications. in theApplicants prior US. Pat. No. 3.587.415. where the compositions forforming the base strip" have been described. In this latter patentspecification there has been described also how the upper face of thestrip material can be advantageously provided with means for improvingits anti-skid properties and its nightime visibility. Other means forfurther improving the above and other properties have been made open topublic inspection and knowledge by the French Pat. Publications No.2.085.900. No. 2.086.257 and No. 2.097.941.

In view of the above extensive publications relating to the prior art ofthe invention. any further discussion of is superfluous.

The methods and means heretofore proposed and made known are howeversubject to certain objections and limitations; such objections areprincipally concerned with the provision of an extremely tacky surfacelayer at the lower face of the strip material and/or at the upper layerof the prepared area of the road blanket. for ensuring a firm adhesiveconnection. This sticky surface layer can be factory provided on thelower face of the strip material and then protected by a paper orplastic film for preventing the coils of the wound bobbin of thematerial from adhering to each other and for facilitating themanipulation of the material prior to the laying-down thereof. and meansare provided for removing such protective film just prior to laying thematerial on the road.

The prior art includes preferably the provision of means for applying tothe upper face of the prepared road blanket or preferably to the lowerface of the strip material a thin layer of highly viscous adhesive. Thisprovision requires rather costly and complicated means and devices and avery careful control and operation of such devices and of the meansprovided for applying and spreading the adhesive on such face inmeasured amount. It has been also heretofore proposed to provide thelayer of the compound. preliminarily applied on the road blanket forpreparing the road surface prior to laying-down the strip materialthereon (such layer is currently referred to as primer layer" in theart. and thus defined as this description proceeds and in the appendedclaims) with a tacky upper surface. This method is also seriouslyobjectionable both because this surface is extremely receptive to dirt.sand. powder and so on. and because the primer layer. the width of whichis necessarily larger than the sign forming strip or tape material. willform on the road surface sticky portions at either side of the appliedtape material.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a principal object ofthis invention to provide new and improved methods. steps. means andmaterials by which the above and other objections and limitations of theprior art can be eliminated or at least greatly reduced.

Essentially. according to the invention. the sign forming tape materialis provided. at its face designed to be contacted with. juxtaposed andpressed on the upper face of the prepared road surface. with a layer ofa compound which is not sticky at least at ambient temperature. butcapable of providing an adhesive bond with the upper surface of theprimer layer on the road. upon a physical and/or a chemical modificationoccurring in the compound adjacent to the tape material primer layerinterface and promoted by actual contact and pressure of said signforming tape material on said primer layer. said modification occurringby an interexchange originated by said actual contact and occurringthrough said interface.

It is therefore a specific object of this invention to provide a new andadvantageous tape material. adapted to be laid on and adhesively securedto the upper face of a primer layer coating a selected area of a roadsurface to form a traffic regulating sign thereon. the said tapematerial having a visible sign actuating upper face. a body of knownelasto-plastic nature and a lower face forming a potentially adhesivelower layer which is not sticky at ambient temperature and including atleast one component capable of being modified so as to promote aphysical bond with said primer layer when contacted with and pressed onthe. upper face of said primer layer.

According to an embodiment of the invention. the said potentiallyadhesive lower layer comprises a thermoplastic resinous componentcapable of acquiring adhesive properties if thermally plastified. andthe tape material is laid on and pressed over a preliminarily heatedprimer layer to promote a heat exchange at said interface. leading to anadhesive bond between said lower layer of the tape material and theprimer layer on the road surface. The preliminary heating of the primerlayer is preferably provided by forming said primer layer of a meltablecompound and laying the molten compound on the road surface blanket andthen laying the tape material on the still hot primer layer.

According to another embodiment of the invention. the said potentiallyadhesive lower layer comprises a resinous component capable ofchemically reacting in particular to cross-link with another componentpresent in the primer layer composition to provide the desired physicalbond at said interface. In such occurrence a heat inter'exehange at saidinterface can be preferably provided for promoting and/or acceleratingthe chemical reaction.

According to a further embodiment of the invention,

the said potentially adhesive lower layer comprises a resinous componentcapable of acquiring sticky properties when partially dissolved bycompatible solvents. and the tape material is laid on and pressedagainst a primer layer including an excess of at least one of saidcompatible solventsv Further embodiments of the invention comprisecombinations of the above indicated modes for providing a bond forminginter-exchange at the interface provided by the actual juxtaposition andpressure of the potentially adhesive lower layer preliminarily andfactory provided at the lower face of the tape material on the upperface of a primer layer preliminarily provided on the selected area ofthe road surface to be marked.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be nowmade apparent in and by the following description of exemplary modes ofmaking use of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRlPTlON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS EXAMPLE 1 Thermallypromoted bond.

which the tape material is cut. according to current art) to the lowerface of a sign forming article. the body and the upper layer of whichare in turn made according to v the known art. such as described in anyof the prior patents and patent publications referred to above. The saidlower layer is made ofa compound including preferably a syntheticrubber.

The primer layer is made. according to current art. of a compoundprevailingly consisting of bitumen and it is applied on and smoothedover the road blanket, also according to current art. in its molten orfluidificd state. and the tape material is laid thereon when the saidprimer layer is still hot. In some occurrences, it might be expedient toapply the primer layer well in advance to the laying down of the tapematerial; in such occurrence such primer layer may be re-heated by meansof a gas burner. for example.

The said primer layer has preferably the following composition. in partsby weight:

Bitumen parts [60 ("hemigum No. 600 (Goodyear) l parts 5 Resin "Eskorexl lUl" (Esso) (2) parts l0 Coumarone-indene resin parts l0 Methylenechloride parts It) The said potentially adhesive layer has preferablythe following composition. in parts by weight also:

EXAMPLE 2 Bond promoted by combined chemico-physical action In thisoccurrenee..the interfacial bond is prevailingly provided by a chemicalcross-linking promoted between resinous components appertaining to thepotentially adhesive lower layer and respectively to the primer layer.Such components consist of like resins or of resins of similar natureand capable of cross-linkage. Preferably, the resinous component in thesaid lower layer is selected from those wherein a suitable hardener(provided in the compound of the primer layer) is highly soluble. As aconsequence of such provision, when the tape material is contacted withand pressed on the primer layer. the said hardener is at least partlytransferred through the interface and promotes the cross-linking of suchresinous component. leading to the desired physical bond of the tape onthe primer layer. upon a chemical action.

Of course. more than one reaction promoter can be made use of. suchpromoters being chosen from those capable of co-reacting and operatingsynergically. said promoters (catalysts, accelerators) beingindividually present in the said potentially adhesive layer and primerlayer. so that their co-action and synergy can be originated by theactual contact between the tape material and the primer layer only.

By preliminarily heating the primer layer. such as described inExample 1. a deeper and more intimate bond can be provided at eitherside of the interface. upon the thermally promoted plasticization andsoftening of the juxtaposed compounds.

The potentially adhesive lower layer of the tape material is preferablycompounded as follows. in parts by weight:

Chemigum Nov 600 parts (10 Neoprene AD (DuPont) or "Bayprene" (Bayer)parts 70 Magnesium oxide parts 4 Resin Durex 12603" (Hoeker Chem.) (3)parts (71) Zinc oxide parts 5 Baryta parts 60 (3] as an example ofaphenolic resin,

In turn. the primer layer is preferably compounded as follows. in partsby weight:

Bitumen 40/50 parts I40 Resin Eskorez 1 l0] parts 40 Oronite I28"(Chevron) (a plasticizer) parts 20 Desmndur R" (Mayer) (an isoeyanateresin) parts 15 Methylene chloride parts 65 EXAMPLE 3 Bond promoted byuse of solvents The potentially adhesive lower layer of the tapematerial can be provided by making use of either of the compoundsdescribed in the Examples 1 or 2. The layer is factory applied to thelower face of tape (or stock sheet) body, upon plasticization of thecompound by means of suitable solvents. according to current art. Thesesolvents are eliminated until the lower face of the tape is no longertacky. preliminarily to winding the tape onto bobbins for storage.transportation and application on the road surface.

The ability to adhesively connect itself to the primer layer. by part ofthe tape lower layer. is restored by adding to said lower layer acertain amount of solvent equal or equivalent to those used forplasticizing the compound. said solvent being present. as an excess ofsolvent. in the primer layer. For example. methylene chloride can bemade use of as a plasticizing solvent for the potentially adhesive lowerlayer of Example 1. such chloride being itself the solvent for theprimer layer of same Example 1. In this occurrence. however. the solventis provided in a greater amount. that is in excess. in the primer layercompound. for providing the excess which will be transferred. throughthe interface. from the primer layer to the lower face of the tapematerial laid on and pressed upon said primer layer. the compound ofwhich comprising. in this occurrence. from 50 to 60 parts by weight ofmethylene chloride.

The most suitable amount of excess solvent can be easily found byexperiments. In general. a greater excess of solvent will be convenientwhen operating in summertime or in general at an ambient temperature ofat least C or preferably C. When the road marking is being made at lowertemperature. the use of more easily volatile solvents. such as asuitable Freoif (a series of well known fluorine compounds) ispreferred.

The use of solvents for imparting adhesiveness to the lower face of thetape material. upon contacting it with a road surface. is extremelysimple and. while such use might require a longer time for having thebond completed and the road sign set for traffic passage. this specificmethod can be sometimes preferred in view of its simplicity. the roadmarking being possible even by purely manual operations or by means ofthe simplest tools.

I claim:

1. A method of forming a traffic-regulating indicium on a road surface.comprising the steps of applying a primer layer to the road surface; andeffecting direct contact between said primer layer and a substantiallynon-adhesive surface of a marking strip. said primer layer and saidstrip surface cooperating in a manner such that a transformationeffecting bonding between said primer layer and said strip surfacewithout interposition of a bond-forming substance between the same. andwhich transformation is absent in the absence of said direct contact.occurs in response to said direct contact.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said primer layer comprisesat least a substantial proportion of bitumen.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, said primer layer being in a heatedcondition when applied to the road surface; and wherein said directcontact is effected while said primer layer is still in a heatedcondition. said transformation occurring due to the heat of said primerlayer and comprising a change in said strip surface from a substantiallynon-adhesive condition to an adhesive condition.

4. A method as defined in claim 1. said primer layer comprising asolvent for said strip surface; and wherein said transformationcomprises at least partial dissolution of said strip surface.

5. A method as defined in claim 4.. wherein said strip surface comprisesa resinous component and said solvent at least partially dissolves saidresinous component.

6. A method as defined in claim 1. wherein said strip surface comprisesa resinous component which is capable of undergoing cross-linking withat least one component of said primer layer. and said transformationcomprises cross-linking of said one and resinous componcnts.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the interface between saidprimer layer and said strip surface is in heated condition so as topromote cross-linking of said one and resinous components.

8. A method as defined in claim 6. wherein said primer layer comprisesan agent for promoting crosslinking of said one and resinous components.

9. A method of forming a traffic-regulating indicium on a road surface.comprising the steps of applying a primer layer to the road surface.said primer layer including at least one component which is capable ofundcrgoing cross-linking. and said primer layer including an agent whichpromotes cross-linking of said one component; and effecting directcontact between said primer layer and a substantially non-adhesivesurface of a marking strip. said strip surface including a resinouscomponent which is capable of undergoing crosslinking with said onecomponent so that bonding of said marking strip to said primer layerupon contact between said strip surface'and said primer layer occurswithout interposition of a bond-forming substance between said stripsurface and said primer layer. and the interface between said primerlayer and said strip surface being in heated condition so as to promotecrosslinking of said one and resinous components.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein said primer layer comprisesa minimum of substantially 50 percent by weight of bitumen.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE PATENT NO.

DATED lNV ENTOR(S) CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3,902,939 September 2, 1975Ludwig Eigenmann ltis certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

At the end of column 3, beneath insert the following:

... by weight also:"

(l) as an example of a butadiene/acrylonitrile rubber;

(2) as an example of a hydrocarbon resin.

Signed and Sealed this Eighteenth Day Of October 1977 [SEAL] Attest:

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Ojficer LUTRELLE F. PARKER Acting Commissionerof Patents and Trademarks

1. A METHOD OF FORMING A TRAFFIC-REGULATING INDICIUM ON A ROAD SURFACE,COMPRISING THE STEPS OF APPLYING A PRIMER LAYER TO THE ROAD SURFACE, ANDEFFECTING DIRECT CONTACT BETWEEN SAID PRIMER LAYER AND A SUBSTANTIALLYNON-ADHESIVE SURFACE OF A MARKING STRIP, SAID PRIMER LAYER AND SAIDSTRIP SURFACE COOPERATING IN A MANER SUCH THAT A TRANSFORMATIONEFFECTING BONDING BETWEEN SAID PRIMER LAYER AND SAID STRIP SURFACEWITHOUT INTERPOSITION OF A BOND-FORMING SUBSTRATE BETWEEN THE SAME, ANDWHICH TRANSFORMATION IS ABSENT IN THE ABSENCE OF SAID DIRECT CONTACT,OCCURS IN RESPONSE TO SAID DIRECT CONTACT.
 2. A method as defined inclaim 1, wherein said primer layer comprises at least a substantialproportion of bitumen.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1, said primerlayer being in a heated condition when applied to the road surface; andwherein said direct contact is effected while said primer layer is stillin a heated condition, said transformation occurring due to the heat ofsaid primer layer and comprising a change in said strip surface from asubstantially non-adhesive condition to an adhesive condition.
 4. Amethod as defined in claim 1, said primer layer comprising a solvent forsaid strip surface; and wherein said transformation comprises at leastpartial dissolution of said strip surface.
 5. A method as defined inclaim 4, wherein said strip surface comprises a resinous component andsaid solvent at least partially dissolves said resinous component.
 6. Amethod as defined in claim 1, wherein said strip surface comprises aresinous component which is capable of undergoing cross-linking with atleast one component of said primer layer, and said transformationcomprises cross-linking of said one and resinous components.
 7. A methodas defined in claim 6, wherein the interface between said primer layerand said strip surface is in heated condition so as to promotecross-linking of said one and resinous components.
 8. A method asdefined in claim 6, wherein said primer layer comprises an agent forpromoting cross-linking of said one and resinous components.
 9. A methodof forming a traffic-regulating indicium on a road surface, comprisingthe steps of applying a primer layer to the road surface, said primerlayer including at least one component which is capable of undergoingcross-linking, and said primer layer including an agent which promotescross-linking of said one component; and effecting direct contactbetween said primer layer and a substantially non-adhesive surface of amarking strip, said strip surface including a resinous component whichis capable of undergoing cross-linking with said one component so thatbonding of said marking strip to said primer layer upon contact betweensaid strip surface and said primer layer occurs without interposition ofa bond-forming substance between said strip surface and said primerlayer, and the interface between said primer layer and said stripsurface being in heated condition so as to promote cross-linking of saidone and resinous components.
 10. A METHOD AS DEFINED IN CLAIM 9, WHEREINSAID PRIMER LAYER COMPRISES A MINIMUM OF SUBSTANTIALLY 50 PERCENT BYWEIGHT OF BITUMEN.